Latching mechanism



y 1943- G. E. LOFGREN ETAL 2,324,406

LA'I'CHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet ly 1943- G. E. LOFGREN ETAL 2,324,406

LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. V23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6M INVENTORS.

BY a

Patented July 13, 1943 2,324,406 LATCHING MECHANISM Gustaf Einar Lofgren, Riverside, and Clarence E.

Stevens, Greenwich, Conn assignors to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 23, 1941, Serial No. 375,610

Claims.

Our invention relates to latching mechanisms and more particularl to a latching mechanism operated by a single handle moving in a plane perpendicular to the latching mechanism.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism of the above type of simple construction which may be economically manufactured and assembled.

What we consider to be novel and our invention may be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side View of a vacuum cleaner with the casing broken away in part;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of the front end of the vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the vacuum cleaner with the front cover broken away, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the keeper;

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 with the handle in a retracted position;

Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3 with the latching mechanism in a retracted position; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line l'! of Fig. 3.

eferring to the drawings, Ill indicates the casing of a vacuum cleaner of the type havin an enclosed dust bag and pulled around on the floor by a flexible hose. A multi-stage centrifugal fan H driven by a motor is mounted in casing 58. A dust bag [3 is mounted within casing ID at the inlet end. Dust bag I3 is secured to a flanged ring M on which is located a rubber gasket l5. Gasket E5 is clamped against a ring l3 by a removable cover ii. A flexible hose i3 is secured in an inlet opening IS in cover H. A cleaning tool 23 is connected to the other end of hose G8 with a tubular handle member 2!. Dust bag I3 may be removed from casing ill for emptying by removing cover ll.

Cover I? has a back plate 22 with a tubular sleeve 23 forming inlet opening 19 and secured thereto by a spun-over shoulder 23. Sleeve 23 has an inwardly extending flange 25 for cooperation with a connector 23 to secure hose !8 to cover ll. A stamping 2? is secured to plate 22 by means of screws and has an opening through which sleeve 23 extends. Stampin 23 is looked to plate 22 by th spun-over shoulder 24 on sleeve 23. A gasket 29 seals stamping 2? around sleeve 23. Similarly, a gasket 36 seals plate 22 around sleeve 23. An operating handle 3! is pivotally mounted by a pin 32 on an upstand in central column 33 secured to a plate 38 which i riveted to back plate 2?. by rivets 49. Handle 38 is movable in a plane perpendicular to plate 22 and in the direction in which cover H is moved to remove it from casing lil. Handle 3| is held in the opened or closed position by a spring 34 in the form of a flat strip which engages a transverse strap 35 and a pin 36 secured to column 33. sectors 37 are secured to opposite sides of handle 35 and have outwardly extending teeth 38. Two gears 39 are secured to plate 48, one on each side of handle 3i, and engage teeth 38. Two intermediate gears 40 are secured to plate 48 and mesh with gears 39. Two pivoted fingers 4| are adapted to enter bosses 42 to lock cover I! to casing l3. Fingers 3! have integrally formed teeth 43 which engage intermediate gears 42. When handle 35 is in the position, indicated in Fig. 2, fingers 2i extend outwardly into engagement with springs 44 located within bosses 42. When handle 3! is moved to the retracted position shown in Fig. 5, fingers H are withdrawn from bosses 42 as shown in Fig. 6.

As best indicated in Fig. 7, gears 33, intermediate gears 40, and fingers M are rotatably secured between a plate 45 and plate 48 by means of rivets 46. Bushings 41 are provided on rivets 46.

The latching mechanism is assembled to plate 22 by securing handle 3| with spring 34 and gear sectors 3? to column 33 by pivot pin 32. Gears 39, intermediate ears 4!], and fingers 4| with plates 45 are secured to plate 48 by rivets 46 and the latter plate is secured to the back plate 22 by rivets 49. After sleeve 23 is located in position, stamping 2'! may then be secured to plate 22 by screws 28 and spun-over shoulder 24 to complete the assembly of cover 11.

While a preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction, as shown, but the scope of invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A latching mechanism including a plate having a central upstanding column, a handle pivotally mounted on said column onan axis parallel to said plate, two gear sectors secured to said handle and rotatable therewith, two gears engaging said sectors and rotatably mounted on said plate on axes perpendicular to said plate, two intermediate gears rotatably mounted on said plate and meshing with said last-named gears, locking fingers pivotally mounted on said plate having gear teeth engaging said intermediate gears, and a spring engaging said column and said handle.

2. A latching mechanism including a plate, a central upstanding column secured to said plate, a handle pivotally mounted on said column, a spring engaging said column and said handle, two gear sectors mounted on opposite sides of said column and secured to said handle for rotation therewith, gears mounted on said plate engaging said sectors, plates overlying said gears secured to said first-named plate, and locking fingers pivotally secured to said last-named plates and having gear teeth engaging said gears.

3. A latching mechanism including a plate, a handle pivotally mounted on said plate, a spring engaging said plate and said handle, two gear sectors secured to said handle for rotation therewith, gears mounted on said plate engaging said sectors, locking fingers pivotally secured to said plate and having gear teeth engaging said gears, and plates overlying said gears secured to said first-named plate and serving to secure said gears to said first-named plate.

4. A latching mechanism including a plate, a handle pivotally mounted for rotation in a plane perpendicular to said plate, a gear sector secured to said handle for rotation therewith, a gear secured to said plate meshing with said gear sector, a second gear secured to said plate and engaging said first-mentioned gear, and a locking finger pivotally secured to said plate and having gear teeth engaging said second gear for pivotal movement from retracted to locked position upon movement of said handle.

5. A latching mechanism including a plate, a handle pivotally mounted for movement in a plane perpendicular to said plate, a gear sector secured to said handle for movement therewith, a gear mounted on said plate and engaging said gear sector, an intermediate gear mounted on said plate and engaging said first-mentioned gear, a locking finger pivotally mounted on said plate and having gear teeth engaging said intermediate gear, and a plate overlying said gears and said locking finger and secured to said plate by means serving also for rotatably securing said gears and said finger to said plate.

GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN. CLARENCE E. STEVENS. 

